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Paul Ince is set to be unveiled as the new manager of MK Dons on Monday morning after quitting League Two rivals Macclesfield.

The former England captain, who helped the club preserve their Football League status on the final day of last season having taken over when they were rooted to the bottom, admitted “my heart has said stay but my head has been telling me to go to MK Dons”.

He said: “This has been a tremendously difficult decision for me. It feels like the decision Thierry Henry has had to make regarding going to Barcelona.

“They have significantly more resources for me to work with and as I am ambitious to make it to the very top, I think I have to go for it.

“I will always remember my time at Macclesfield – this was where I started my managerial career – and I hope our supporters will understand why I am moving on. We came here last October to do a job – to keep Macclesfield in the Football League – and we did it.”

Chairman Rob Bickerton added on the club’s official website, http://www.mtfc.co.uk: “Paul is a very special person and a fantastic manager. We tried our best to keep him at the club but we must accept these things happen in football.

“We are very sad to lose him and will miss him, Ray and Russ. On behalf of everyone at Macclesfield Town, we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to them for the work they have done here and wish them all the best in the future.”